Adventure: North Atlantic in a one-metre boat - the crazy Brit gets serious

Update 25 April 2023:

The ocean dwarf "Big C" has been loaded and is currently on its way to St Johns. Andrew Bedwell replied to YACHT's enquiry as to what the future holds for him:

"I'm going to St Johns on the 23rd of May, the reason for the delay of a couple of weeks is that firstly the weather is about two weeks behind what I would expect at the moment, having tracked all the dates out there for the last ten years. Anyway, that helps with some things, it's later in May which means the weather in St Johns is a bit better, with more daylight. Also, Hugo's departure date was the 1st of June, so it would be cool to leave on that day ..."

Find out who Hugo is and what Bedwell thinks about this project in the following interview, which we conducted with him in September 2022.

The video of the loading of the "Big C"

The interview with Andrew Bedwell:

There are two hearts beating in Andrew Bedwell's chest: that of the devoted family man and that of the notorious adventurer. Now the Brit wants to equal a world record set by Hugo Vihlen in 1993. The US American crossed the stormy North Atlantic in a micro yacht with a hull length of just 162 centimetres.

Bedwell has set himself the goal of not just setting a new record that will be beaten by a few centimetres at the next opportunity. His record is to be sailed to Great Britain for eternity.

In May 2023, he plans to set sail from Newfoundland with his "Big C" - to then master 1,900 nautical miles with a boat that measures just over one metre.

YACHT: Andrew, is your plan foolhardy or insane?

Andrew Bedwell: I do indeed love the adventure. But I also spent five years preparing incredibly well for the project.

Do you have another boat that you sail when you're not chasing records with your micro yacht? A bigger one perhaps?

Even bigger? (laughs) Yes, I have an RG 650 Mini, which I sailed around Iceland in 2019. But I don't really need anything bigger.

What do you do for a living?

I work two days a week for a sailmaker. I also repair sails and tarpaulins in my workshop at home. As I have a nine-year-old daughter, a good work-life balance is very important to me. After all, children are only so young for a limited time and I savour every moment with her.

So how do you explain to your daughter that you're going to spend weeks bludgeoning through Arctic waters in a Mini? Or, even worse, that you're about to spend three months travelling across the Atlantic in a Mini?

Fortunately, we are both very similar and do the craziest things together all the time. She loves nature just as much as I do and has an irrepressible will to conquer it. That makes it easier for her to understand why I do these supposedly crazy things.

Would you allow her to take on such a risky project?

Absolutely! I think it's wonderful when she accepts challenges and grows from them. Even if they don't necessarily have to be records. But leaving the comfort zone - that's pure life!

And what does your wife say about your minimalist sailing adventures?

We once went on a day trip together in my Mini 650. The weather was fantastic, light breeze, smooth sea, and my wife was delighted. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a strong offshore wind came up and we had to cross against it for hours. It got worse after every tack and my poor wife almost went mad below deck. She hasn't set foot on my boats since then. That was years ago, and by now she couldn't even name the colour of my current boat, which is right next to our driveway. We are the exact opposite of each other in many ways, but that's what makes the music in marriage.

What fascinates you about small boats in general?

I like to concentrate on the essentials; as little distraction as possible from modern communication and entertainment. In other words, the exact opposite of my home on land. I go sailing to focus on the sea and experience nature as intensively as possible. The less comfort, the stronger the experience. Going back to basics and only having the bare minimum of electronics on board also increases awareness and sharpens the senses.

Do you also have an aversion to large, luxurious yachts?

I have the same respect for all people who go out on the water and have fun there. No matter which boat. But what surprises me is the trend towards increasingly expensive boats that are equipped so that you don't miss anything from home. Televisions in every corner, plus sound systems and, of course, Wi-Fi. The entertainment should be the sea with all its facets. I've never been bored on the water.

That's the romantic talking. Can you enjoy this Atlantic crossing? Crammed into this box, often randomly exposed to the elements, it sounds more like a nightmare to most people.

But of course, I savour every second I'm out at sea! The sound of wind and water puts me in a trance-like state of calm. Phases of suffering, for example in a storm, are just as much a part of it for me as a beautiful sunrise. Then there is the challenge of accomplishing something that no one has ever done before. This gives me a constant boost, even when my limbs ache and I feel like I'm in the spin cycle of a washing machine.

I will be disappointed if I don't experience at least one storm. In this respect, I trust the North Atlantic completely

Are you never afraid of your own courage?

No. Because quite honestly, I can hardly wait to get out on the Atlantic with "Big C". And if I don't have to weather at least one big storm, I'll be pretty disappointed and really upset. People go on the craziest roundabouts to get intoxicated for a few minutes. Hopefully I get to savour it a little longer.

What was the feedback like when you went public with your plan? Only applause or also headwinds?

Two minutes after the press release was sent out, the first newspaper called. Since then, I've been getting calls, emails and text messages around the clock every day. 99 per cent of the comments on my website are actually positive, which is not bad in these days of online bashing. People seem to be fascinated by a "normal family man" taking on such a challenge. Also, there is so much negative stuff in the press like Corona, Ukraine or climate that people are longing for something inspiring or at least positive. The only person who completely refuses to engage in this discussion is my father. He refuses to talk about it, and if he can't avoid it, he just talks about "this thing standing around on my driveway".

The boat is designed for a worst-case scenario. Safety therefore takes precedence over comfort

What is special about your boat, apart from the fact that it is extremely small?

The design is completely geared towards a worst-case scenario, which is why seaworthiness and safety have the highest priority. The boat consists of a total of twelve self-contained compartments so that only a small area is flooded in the event of a mast or rudder breaking off, for example. The boat therefore remains one hundred per cent buoyant. As these compartments on the "Big C" are naturally very small, a possible imbalance can simply be compensated for by shifting the food rations. Particularly critical areas such as the bow are three to four centimetres thick. We are still working on a possible flipper drive that utilises the wave force and could give the boat additional thrust. We are also exploring the possibility of a live stream. Similar to Formula 1, the viewer could then see what I see. And 24/7 over the entire route! Small cameras outside the capsule could show me and my field of vision, allowing me to share my experiences at any time. But we're still in brainstorming mode.

Speaking of seaworthiness. How stable is this ultra-short boat in the water?

We carried out extensive stability tests in the harbour, with both maximum and minimum loads, to simulate how the boat would behave with different provisions. We noticed major differences in the heeling behaviour and had to find a solution for this.

May I ask what this solution looks like?

It's simple: I regularly balance the weight of the food I consume while travelling with water filled in small bags. This keeps the weight of the "Big C" constant and therefore also the body-building momentum. At the same time, I maintain an ever-increasing supply of drinkable water.

Drinking water - do you have to wait for rain?

No, I make use of the ocean by pumping seawater into the boat and then making it edible using a manual desalination system.

But you probably won't have a toilet on board. Can a bailer help out?

There is no room on board for this. I urinate through a tube into a bag embedded in the keel. It stays closed when I'm close to the harbour and the coast; I only urinate on the open sea. There won't be any big deals, as I reduce my daily energy intake to 1,000 calories. My only luxury product on board helps with everything else: a flannel for my face, upper and lower body. Attached to a line, it cleans itself in the wake while I'm travelling.

For me, challenges are the salt in the soup. Humour and the ability to suffer are my strongest weapons

How do you keep your body fit while travelling, for example to prevent inflammation, joint stiffness or muscle atrophy?

I'll have a small generator with a hand crank on the port side and the manual desalination system on the starboard side. That way I can exercise my arms a little every day. In good weather, I can stand on the deck and do specific gymnastic exercises that I have discussed with my physiotherapist in advance. I also take a customised hammock with me for the "stern" to take the strain off my back whenever possible. I will also swim when I get the chance, secured with a leash of course. We are also still working on an ergonomic seat shell, either padded with food or with an inflatable backrest that can also be pulled behind the boat as an air mattress.

There is a glass jar with ashes on board. What's it all about?

These are the ashes of Tom McNally, who broke the world record with a microboat once again in 1993. As his record only lasted a few months, he had planned to try again with a newly constructed boat. Unfortunately, he became very ill and died without being able to complete his mission. I bought the construction project from his daughter Lorraine four years ago, shortened it considerably and modified it further and further. She also gave me the ashes, which have never left the boat since. I will complete Tom's mission and scatter his ashes on the Atlantic in his honour.

What safety equipment do you have on board?

I have AIS, a transponder, VHF with DSC, POB and a satellite phone with me. The devices are powered by a battery in the keel, which can be recharged using solar panels and the manual generator. I can't install any more instruments, as not only is there an acute lack of space, but the devices also consume more power than I can produce.

Do you have space for a spare sail and tools on board?

We are still evaluating the possibility of attaching an additional sail to the mast in a special bag. As we only sail downwind, it won't get in the way. I also made a conscious decision in favour of Dacron sails, which are heavier but largely indestructible. The top priority is, of course, to protect the sails by optimising the trim. I have a basic repair kit in the boat to repair any damage. My nickname is McGyver, by the way!

How old were you when you got infected with water sports?

Very early on. I grew up in my father's boat outfitting business, who also raced motorboats. He took me out for the first time when I was six months old. So I was literally born with the boat virus.

How do you get weather forecasts on the "Big C"?

I'm still weighing up whether I want any or not. With my Mini, I can avoid a front if necessary. Of course I can't do that with the "Big C". So what comes, comes, I have to go through it anyway. The only advantage of a good forecast would be that I would know roughly how long a storm will last. Will I be through it after two days or will it last another three days? That can give me a mental advantage. But is it really valuable for me to know that something bad is coming and that I'm already worried in advance? Maybe it won't even arrive or will pass me by. I can prepare my boat for heavy weather in five minutes: Furl the sail, lash the outrigger to the mast, done. The boat is designed to withstand any storm.

Do you have sponsors for your record attempt?

To date, "Big C" has deliberately been completely self-financed. I first wanted to have a boat that had successfully passed the initial tests before I started looking for potential sponsors. After all, it's also about trust. From now on, however, we are looking for sponsors to support the project. The advertising space isn't huge, but we have good ideas for advertising it effectively.

Will you be doing more drifting than sailing?

I sail with the current and the prevailing wind direction from west to east and will probably reach speeds of up to 2.5 knots. I will only drift in unfavourable winds - then unfortunately in the wrong direction. To avoid drifting too dramatically, I have a drift anchor with me.

It must be either very hot and stuffy or cold in your microboat. Plus the problem of condensation. Can you regulate the temperature and humidity with the dome closed or ventilate it from time to time?

Yes, I can cross-ventilate and remove moisture with two wind scoops that can be aligned from the inside. Fresh air is also essential in my canister, as I have a maximum of 40 minutes of breathable air. Apart from that, I have a set of functional underwear and light sailing clothing with me, that's all I have. It gets nasty in this respect.

So there's no need to ask about sleeping patterns. But aren't you afraid of collisions with containers or cargo ships that overlook you?

Containers will probably overtake me on the left (laughs). Because of my travelling speed, I'm not really afraid of them. I'm more afraid of the cargo giants, as my AIS only offers limited protection. But I have a perfect all-round view from my dome. All I have to do is open my eyes and I can immediately see what's going on around me.

What's the first thing you'll drink and eat when you reach Cornwall?

Unfortunately, it won't be beer, as I'll have been abstinent for three months and will be pretty emaciated. So I'll be enjoying a nice cup of tea. With fish and chips. But of course I'll be looking forward to seeing my family the most.